By JAJAH COULIBALY –

THE Rwandan High Commission in Zambia has observed that there is a small group of its nationals locally who are discouraging former refugees from obtaining passports.
The Commission is aware that the clique is frustrating the Zambian Government’s efforts to locally integrate former Rwandan refugees by alleging that those who would obtain Rwandan passports would be identified and be prosecuted by their government for alleged involvement in the 1994 genocide.
Rwandan High Commission Charge d’ Affairs Abel Buhungu said in an interview that the Rwandan government was not in any way planning to prosecute any former Rwandan refugees.
Mr Buhungu said those peddling falsehoods about the issuance of Rwandan passports know that if a law breaker was wanted by that country’s government, it would be easy to apprehend them owing to the existing strong ties between Zambia and Rwanda.
“My country and Zambia have strong ties, so if we want someone to be arrested that can be easy, so please they mustn’t be misled by cheap propagandists,” he said.
Mr Buhungu charged that the Rwandans misleading  fellow nationals who were willing to apply for passports or to go back to their country of origin were a danger to the public.
He, however, said a good number of former refugees had applied for passports and everything was being done to finalise the process in the issuance of the document.
The Rwandan nationals ceased being refugees on June 30, 2013 after the Cessation Clause was invoked following the restoration of peace in their country of origin.